Trail running is gaining popularity among older adults, offering health benefits and a strong community. Experts advise a gradual approach to starting, focusing on safety, proper gear, and respecting nature.
India's Praggnanandhaa remains in contention for the Norway Chess 2026 title, trailing leader Wesley So by 0.5 points with one round left, as the top three players (So, Praggnanandhaa, Alireza Firouzja) are separated by just one point.
Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi has re-entered the world's top 10 chess players, securing the No. 8 spot in the June 2026 FIDE ratings. He is the only Indian player in the top 10.
Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi has re-entered the world's top 10 chess players, securing the No. 8 spot in the June 2026 FIDE ratings. He is the sole Indian player in the top 10.
Indian chess stars Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Divya Deshmukh suffered significant classical defeats in the reverse fixtures of Norway Chess. Magnus Carlsen returned to winning ways, while Koneru Humpy's struggles continued.
Grandmaster Hans Niemann secured his most significant career win at the Warsaw Rapid & Blitz, taking home $50,000. The victory comes amidst the lingering controversy from his 2022 match against Magnus Carlsen.
Faustino Oro, a 12-year-old Argentine, becomes the second-youngest Grandmaster in chess history, earning the nickname 'Messi of Chess' for his exceptional talent, mirroring Lionel Messi's impact on football.
World champion D Gukesh showed rare emotion after defeating future title challenger Javokhir Sindarov at the Grand Chess Tour in Poland. Playing with the black pieces, Gukesh outplayed the Uzbek grandmaster in 52 moves and celebrated with a fist pump after the win. The victory was seen as a strong statement ahead of their World Championship clash later this year.
12-year-old Aarav Sarbalia is gaining recognition as a rising chess talent. Alongside his on-board progress, his structured social media content has attracted prominent followers, including Judit Polgar and D Gukesh's coach, Vishnu Prasanna. Supported by his family and guided by top coaching, Aarav is building momentum toward his long-term goal of achieving the Grandmaster (GM) title.
14-year-old Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus has become the youngest chess Grandmaster to achieve a 2700 rating, surpassing Wei Yi's previous record. The Turkish prodigy, supported by entrepreneur Evren Ucok, aims for 2800 and will compete in the TePe Sigeman competition alongside Magnus Carlsen.
Aarav Sarbalia, a 12-year-old FIDE Master, has become the online chess world's latest sensation through his 'fun reels' on social media. The Bengaluru-based prodigy, who analysed positions at the recent FIDE Candidates tournament on a YouTube commentary panel, has gained high-profile followers including Judit Polgar and Vishnu Prasanna. After struggling to find sponsorships due to lack of social presence, his family started creating content to build his profile, which led to securing a sponsorship from a chess startup. Currently rated around 2247, Aarav is coached by six-time national champion Surya Shekhar Ganguly and has his sights set on becoming a Grandmaster.
This article explores two chess cheating scandals spanning 30 years: the 1993 Von Neumann Affair at the World Open in Philadelphia, where an unrated player using hidden technology in his shoes drew with grandmaster Helgi Ólafsson before fleeing after being asked to solve a puzzle; and the 2022 Hans Niemann controversy, detailed in Netflix documentary Untold: Chess Mates, where Niemann was accused of cheating against Magnus Carlsen using a sex toy. The piece examines how chess has transformed from an era when Garry Kasparov could beat any computer to today where grandmasters would lose to a novice with a phone.
Aronyak Ghosh, 22, from Kolkata, has become India's 95th Grandmaster after winning the 23rd BCC Open 2026 in Bangkok with an unbeaten 7/9 score and 2584 performance rating. The achievement completes a four-year journey since his first GM norm in Barcelona in 2022, overcoming significant financial hardships where his family sold belongings to fund his tournament entries.
